What does business to business casual mean anyway?

Important information came my way yesterday. I will be required to wear business to business casual for the end-of-the-month festivities. I have also learned that if I don’t dress up enough, I could be denied access into important venues and hip parties. So, now I have to ask, what does business to business causal mean anyway?

The talk on the street is that working the PIC attracts fiesta invites. This means there is an actual chance I could be sipping mojitos and dancing the sprinkler with celebrities Anne Hathaway, Gloria Reuben, Hillary Clinton, James Taylor, Quentin Taraentino, and Oprah. One confirmed party invite - Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid’s booking signing shindig. A chance is enough to draw me to the mall this weekend to purchase outfits that scream “Now this girl has access!”

I turned to some online sources to help answer my buring question. Reported on USAToday.com last year, Jennifer Cohen was just as puzzled as I am about what business causal truly means. She thought she understood business casual but was quite mistaken. Companies try to lighten the pressure to dress for success by offering casual Fridays. You would think it is a great perk, right? But, June Webb, a fashion consultant in Alexandria, VA reports causal Fridays are getting out of control. Women are showing too much skin and men are equating casual Fridays to mean permission to wear wrinkly shirts and pants.

Do you want to talk out of control? A group of women visiting 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue decided flip-flops would be the most appropriate shoe to wear to visit the President of the United States. I think most people would assume when visiting with the President, dressing business casual would be a good place to start. But, these women must have been mistaken that flip-flops are considered business casual. But, were they? According to The Washington Post reporter Ruth Marcus, there should be no flipping out about flip-flops. Ruth has a point. Politics is filled with flip-flopping. Which makes me think there might be a whole lot of flip-flops on the street's of Denver. Perhaps DNCers will be wearing them in honor of politics.

Michelle Obama is redefining political style with glowing similarities to Jackie O. She is bringing the sleeveless dress back to the political arena. The Donna Ricco sleeveless dress Michelle wore on “The View” nearly sold off the shelves of White House/Black Market stores overnight. So, this is business or business casual?

What you wear to work may affect your career climb! But, until we can define business and business casual, my expert advice is simply to always dress your best! In my case, my wardrobe August 25-28 will impact the amount of juicy daily dishes I can serve you all.

I will be comfortable yet sheik; and cute but conservative.

Yes, I'm shooting to have the Michelle Obama Fashion Factor, but am prepared to settle for my own style that WILL get me access to the important venues and dazzling parties.

Over and out, Stephanie